Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH14249’

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by having a dark orange flower color and a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH14249’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH14249’. ‘KLEPH 14249’ originated from acontrolled-cross between the female petunia variety commercially knownas Surprise Orange Twist (patent status unknown) and the proprietarymale petunia variety ‘PH-2009-1404’, also known as ‘KLEPH12216’(unpatented).

In July 2010, two petunia parental lines, the female variety SurpriseOrange Twist and the male petunia variety ‘PH-2009-1404’ were crossedvia a controlled cross in Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. Theseeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line wasselected in April 2011 which had a dark orange flower color and wassubsequently named ‘KLEPH14249’. In April 2011, ‘KLEPH14249’ was firstvegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings in Latina, Italy.‘KLEPH14249’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tipcuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Dark orange flower color; and    -   2. A semi-trailing plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows a close-up of the flowers. The photograph is of afour-month-old plant grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2013.The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH14249’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on twelve-week-old plants grown inplastic greenhouse in Latina, Italy in February 2015. Color referencesare to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.        -   Variety.—‘KLEPH14249’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Commercial line Surprise Orange Twist.        -   Male.—Proprietary male petunia ‘KLEPH12216’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Medium growing.        -   Habit.—Semi-trailing.        -   Height (from top of soil).—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—14.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 14 weeks            in winter under short day conditions; 7 weeks in spring.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—6.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—About 8.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.3 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.5 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144C.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture.—Tomentose.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—About 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:            RHS 146B.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface:            RHS 146B.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Tomentose.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 146C. Lower surface: RHS            146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm to 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color:            RHS 145B. Texture: Tomentose.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.        -   Length.—3.0 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 184A.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering            during the summertime.        -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.        -   Number of flowers per node.—2.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—7 to 10 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the            base. Shape: Funnel form. Diameter (flower face): 6.5 cm.            Depth (total length of flower): 4.8 cm. Throat/Funnel:            Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter (at opening): 1.0 cm. Texture (both            inner and outer surfaces): Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petals.—Color of petals, immature flower: Upper surface: RHS            44A. Lower surface: RHS N34C to RHS 35A. Color of petals,            mature flower: Upper surface: RHS 34A. Lower surface:            Between RHS 39B and RHS 39C. Apex: Broadly mucronate. Base:            Fused. Margin: Entire. Strength of waviness: Weak. Degree of            lobation: Weak. Calyx arrangement: Actinomorphic, composed            of 5 sepals.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS            146A. Length: 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Width: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.            Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture (both surfaces): Tomentose.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: About 2.0 cm. Diameter:            0.15 cm. Texture: Tomentose.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle like with elliptic head.            Filament: Length: 1.0 cm to 1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.015 cm.            Color: RHS 149D. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 155D.            Pollen: Color: RHS 158B. Amount: Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.0 cm. Stigma            color: RHS 144A. Style color: RHS 145C.-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH14249’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Variety SurpriseOrange Male Parent Trait ‘KLEPH14249’ Twist ‘PH-2009-1404’ Flower colorDarker orange Brilliant orange Red

‘KLEPH 14249’ is most similar to the petunia plant commercially known asSurprise Orange Twist (patent status unknown). Differences between thetwo varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait‘KLEPH14249’ Surprise Orange Twist Flower color Darker orange Brilliantorange

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘KLEPH14249’ as illustrated and described herein.